A mammoth undertaking

By Gillian

This weekend, we had planned to be at a garden party and dance at the house of a friend’s parents, in London. We went this time last year and both thoroughly enjoyed ourselves – even Chris danced which is not something he does often! This year, we received the invitation several months ago, whilst Chris was in the middle of chemotherapy, and it’s been something we’ve both really been looking forward to, which has helped us get through some of the grottier days.  I’d even bought a new pair of shoes to wear to the dance (and I can hear my sister falling off her chair in shock at that statement……..)

However, since getting back from Wales two weeks ago, Chris has been getting progressively worse. One of the tumours in his spine is pressing on a nerve, giving him near constant back pain. The opiates he’s taking for the pain make him sleepy, so he’s been spending most afternoons snoozing on the sofa. It was quite clear that he was not going to be able to cope with a 3 hour drive to London in our little Mini, followed by several hours sitting on a garden chair – let alone dancing.

So, very reluctantly, we decided we would have to cancel going to the party, and have a quiet weekend at home instead. Chris has some palliative radiotherapy scheduled for Tuesday afternoon, which we very much hope will help with the pain. Then, if he can cope on lower doses of the opiates, he should have more energy too.

We really are trying to be sensible, and not overdo things at the moment, even though it’s very disappointing that we have to limit what we can do. So I’m watching the men’s doubles finals at Wimbledon on the TV, while Chris is fast asleep on the sofa, propped up on cushions to ease his back.